Posted on Fri, May. 02, 2008
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WEB EXTRA
Saints sign 16 undrafted free agents before minicamp
Rookie workouts will start next week
By LARRY HOLDER
lholder@sunherald.com
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In the hopes of finding this year's version of running back Pierre Thomas and punter Steve Weatherford, the New Orleans Saints finalized deals Thursday with 16 undrafted free agents.
The players the team signed are: Iowa State wide receiver Todd Blythe, Stanford wide receiver Evan Moore, offensive Utah tackle Jason Boone, Georgia Tech guard Nate McManus, Illinois tackle Akim Millington, Georgia Tech center Kevin Tuminello, Boston College linebacker JoLonn Dunbar, LSU linebacker Luke Sanders, UNLV defensive end Jeremy Geathers, San Diego State running back Lynell Hamilton, Stanford quarterback T.C. Ostrander, San Jose State punter Waylon Prather, TCU safety David Roach, Houston safety Rocky Schwartz, Ohio State long snapper Ryan Senser and Portland State fullback Olaniyi Sobomehin.
The Saints also waived former Ole Miss defensive tackle McKinley Boykin and defensive end Josh Cooper, along with running back Jamaal Branch and wide receiver Carlton Brewster.
All 16 players, along with the Saints' six draft picks (defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, cornerback Tracy Porter, defensive tackle DeMario Pressley, tackle Carl Nicks, kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and wide receiver Adrian Arrington), will take part in the team's rookie minicamp May 9-11.
"Each of the last couple of years, we've been able to a find a player through (rookie) free agency," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "Our message to those guys is no different than to any draft pick once they're on board. It doesn't really matter to us how they got here, they have an opportunity to make the team. When you look at it, there have been a number of free agents that not only have made teams, but have been Pro Bowl players."
Geathers already holds ties to the Saints as his father, former New Orleans defensive tackle Jumpy Geathers, played for the Saints for six seasons from 1984-89.
Branch was one of the unknown gems coming away from training camp in 2006 and scored a touchdown in the Saints' regular season finale against Carolina. He played in four games in 2007, but never touched the ball.
Cooper played in 13 games last season, starting two of them, and tallied 14 total tackles, half of a sack and a forced fumble. Boykin suited up for three games in 2007, gathering 10 total tackles.
Brewster was signed off the Denver practice squad shortly after the 2007 regular season.
